Anne Arundel County Digest

'Apple Fest Family Fun Day'

Come celebrate the local apple harvest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at Whole Foods Market in Annapolis Towne Centre, 200 Harker Place. Free pie tins to the first 200 guests, hot apple cider samples, free recipe cards and caramel-apple making are among the included activities. All are welcome. Information: 410-266-5761.

Tax season

Volunteers are needed to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to help seniors and low-income adults with their 2012 tax returns. Participants will be trained by the IRS and the Maryland Comptroller's Office. They will help only with simple 2012 income tax returns, which will be filed electronically. Volunteers do not do tax returns involving partnerships or corporations, self-employed persons or rental properties. Volunteers are not required to have a financial background, but certified public accountants, attorneys, bookkeepers and those with financial training are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers will be stationed at one of the county's senior activity centers and will be available by appointment between Feb. 4 and April 5. For more information, call 410-222-6717.

Basketball

Maryland 3D Basketball will hold tryouts for boys in grades 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 and 28 at the Severn School, 201 Water St. in Severna Park. Registration is available online at maryland3dbasketball.com. For information, call David Thurston at 443-324-0850.

'Gone Country'

Fort Meade's first "Meade's Gone Country" takes place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Conference Center on Fort Meade. The event features line dancing, mechanical bull riding, contests and prizes, music and a whiskey bar featuring specialty drinks. Food and beverages are available for purchase. No cover charge. Must be 18 or older. For directions and more information, call 301-677-7785.

Annual cocktail benefit

The sixth annual Saints and Sinners Cocktail Party, hosted by The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, will take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 at the Powerhouse at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, 126 West St. The event features live music by Eddie Pasa, Tom Lagana and SNAFU. Appetizers, desserts, beer, wine, soft drinks and signature cocktails are included in the ticket price. Proceeds benefit children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Tickets are $80 per person; $750 for a group of 10. Information: 410-990-1900 or thearcccr.org.

A costume party with candy, refreshments, dancing and a costume contest, sponsored by the Student Association Campus Activities Board, will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 26 in AACC's Student Union dining hall, 101 College Parkway in Arnold. Free. Information: 410-777-2218 or aacc.edu/studentlife/cab.

Fundraiser

The annual Cardinal Gibbons Bull Roast & "Friend" raiser event will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 17 at Leadership Through Athletics, 2900 Hammonds Ferry Road in Lansdowne. Proceeds will used for needs-based scholarships for local students. Cost is $45 per person. For tickets and more information, call 410-744-0900.

Voter's Guide

Two versions of the Voters' Guide for the 2012 general election, prepared by the League of Women Voters, are available on the Internet. The guide is a nonpartisan tool voters can use to evaluate the candidates and issues on this year's ballot, which includes seven statewide questions and 15 county charter amendment proposals. The interactive electronic version can be accessed through vote411.org. The site also provides information about districts, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots. The complete Voters' Guide for Anne Arundel County is also available for online viewing and PDF download at aa.lwvmd.org. Limited copies of the print version are expected to be available at county senior centers and libraries next week.

Haunted house

The Bowie Baysox and Tulip Gulch have opened the gates to the Doomsday Asylum Haunted House. This new attraction runs Fridays-Saturdays this month as well as Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 29-31. The show features more than 30 actors, special effects and props, and takes approximately 20 minutes to walk through. The Asylum is rated PG-13; parental discretion is strongly advised. The show takes place indoors, and all dates are open — rain or shine. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and tours run from sundown to 11 p.m. Tickets are $15 when ordered online in advance; $17 at the door. For tickets, directions and more information, go to baysox.com.

Fall music series

The St. Anne's Concert Series continues at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, with the Chesapeake Strings at the church on Church Circle in Annapolis.

Additional concerts feature:

•Baroque music with the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra Players on Oct. 25.

The Children's Theatre of Annapolis presents this spy spoof based on the television series through Oct. 21 at 1661 Bay Head Road. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Tickets are $15; $12 for children 12 and younger and adults 60 and older. Information: 410-757-2281 or childrenstheatreofannapolis.org.

Plein air artists

Benfield Gallery, 485 Jumpers Hole Road in Severna Park, invites plein air artists ages 18 and older to enter the "Just in Time for the Holidays" exhibition being held Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at the gallery. Information: 410-544-2299 or email kellyatbenfield@aol.com.

Auditions

The Colonial Players will hold auditions at 7 p.m. Sunday-Monday, Oct. 14-15 at 2132 Renard Court for "Shipwrecked," a comedy about the adventures of a Victorian-era explorer that will be presented by the theater troupe in January. Auditions will be for three actors, including a man to portray Louis de Rougemont and a man and a woman who will each play more than 50 roles while contributing sound and lighting effects. Information: thecolonialplayers.org or email shipwrecked@thecolonialplayers.org.

Museum raffle

The Captain Salem Avery House Museum's annual fundraising raffle is under way. Top prize is $5,000, and tickets are $5 each. The winning ticket will be drawn at the West River Heritage Day Oyster Festival beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at the museum, 1418 E. West Shady Side Road in Shady Side. Checks, payable to Captain Avery Museum, can be mailed to: P.O. Box 89, Shady Side 20764, or call 410-867-4486.

A free, six-week diabetes self-management program will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays through Oct. 23 at the O'Malley Senior Activity Center, 1275 Odenton Road in Odenton. People with pre-diabetes or Type 1 or 2 diabetes are eligible. Participants will learn how to identify problems caused by diabetes, manage their blood sugars and understand the relationship between food and blood-sugar levels. There will also be instruction on how to read nutrition labels, deal with stress, cope with depression and improve communication with doctors. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and will receive a "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" textbook. To register and for more information, call Pam Toomey at the Department of Aging and Disabilities, 410-222-4366, ext. 3057, or email her at agtoom88@aacounty.org.

Call for artists

Benfield Gallery invites artists ages 18 and older to enter its annual fall juried exhibition being held Oct. 25-Nov. 17 at the gallery, 485 Jumpers Hole Road in Severna Park. The show's theme is "Autumn Reflections." Any two- or three-dimensional work will be considered by Kathy Daywalt, this year's juror. Information: 410-544-2299 or email kellyatbenfield@aol.com.

Reunion notice

The Chesapeake High School Class of 1982 will hold its 30th reunion from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 17 at Kurtz's Beach in Pasadena. Tickets are $50 per person; advance sales only (no tickets will be sold at the door). The deadline for ticket orders is Nov. 1.

The county Human Relations Commission is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy. The 11-member commission is a volunteer body established to promote fairness, eliminate discrimination and harassment in public and private sectors, and advance understanding and effective communication among people of different backgrounds and cultures. Applicants must be at least 18, county residents and able to attend evening meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. Legal experience is desirable but not required. Applicants should send a resume and letter of intent to: Johnelka Stafford, 44 Calvert St., Room 330, Annapolis 21401. Information: 410-222-1234.

'Operation Paperback'

This nonprofit organization collects used books nationwide and sends them to American troops deployed overseas. Since 1999, more than a million books have been shipped to military personnel around the world. Organizing the effort in this area is Sandy Marron of Annapolis. She can be contacted at opbooksmilitary@comcast.net. Put "books" in the subject line. More information: operationpaperback.org.

Resource guide

The Anne Arundel Volunteer Center has released a Youth Resource Guide, with information about nonprofit and faith-based organizations in the county. A free copy is at volunteerannearundel.org. Printed copies can be purchased at the center, 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, for $5 each. Information: 410-897-9207.

The Ann Arrundell County Historical Society has opened the historic Benson-Hammond House and North Browse and Buy Shoppe at Aviation Boulevard and Andover Road in Linthicum for the season. Tours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Group tours are by appointment.

Historical research

The Kuethe Library's Historical & Genealogical Research Center, 5 Crain Highway S.E., operated jointly by the historical society and the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays all year. Information: 410-760-9679.